As of last week, the Regis Jesuit guard hadn’t posted a 20-point performance this season. In the Class 5A semifinals Wednesday night, the junior guard made it three in a row in a 72-45 victory over Fort Collins at the Coors Events Center.

Dent scored a game-best 25 points, following up a 26-point performance against Legacy in the quarterfinals and 22-point showing against Denver East in the Sweet 16.

“Losing Colleen (Rooney) to injury, I knew I had to step up, take over and be a captain,” said Dent, who averaged 9.1 points a game before the recent flurry.

Dent has filled her captain’s role admirably, helping guide a group of seven freshmen, two sophomores and one other junior to the state championship game.

“After our loss to Highlands Ranch, we had a come-to-Jesus meeting and I told Marquelle that she has to believe in the younger kids,” Regis coach Carl Mattei said. “That changed her a bit, and she’s really been moving the ball. In doing so, it’s created easier shots for herself. She’s had a (heck) of a tournament.”

“We came out up 3-0, and next thing you know we can’t get the ball past half court the next four trips,” Lambkins coach Kyle Tregoning said. “We got caught up in the moment a bit and all of a sudden we’re down double digits.”

Regis began the season 7-5 and struggled to stay in the rankings with star junior Katie Heckman shelved by a knee injury. Then Rooney endured the same fate in the Sweet 16, but thanks to Dent and the emerging underclassmen, the Raiders are still alive.